GMC CCKW in the context of 2 1/2-ton 6×6 truck


GMC CCKW in the context of 2 1/2-ton 6×6 truck

⭐ Core Definition: GMC CCKW

The GMC CCKW, also known as "Jimmy", or the G-508 by its Ordnance Supply Catalog number, was a highly successful series of off-road capable, 212-ton, 6×6 trucks, built in large numbers to a standardized design (from 1941 to 1945) for the U.S. Army, that saw heavy service, predominantly as cargo trucks, in both World War II and the Korean War. The original "Deuce and a Half", it formed the backbone of the Red Ball Express that kept Allied armies supplied as they pushed eastward after the Normandy invasion.

The CCKW came in many variants, including open or closed cab, long wheelbase (LWB) CCKW-353 and short (SWB) CCKW-352, and over a score of specialized models, but the bulk were standard, general purpose, cargo models. A large minority were built with a front mounted winch, and one in four of the cabs had a machine-gun mounting ring above the co-driver's position.

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GMC CCKW in the context of 6×6

Six-wheel drive (6WD or 6×6) is an all-wheel drive drivetrain configuration of three axles with at least two wheels on each axle capable of being driven simultaneously by the vehicle's engine. Unlike four-wheel drive drivetrains, the configuration is largely confined to heavy-duty off-road and military vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles, armored vehicles, and prime movers.

When such a vehicle only has six wheels by definition all are driven. When it has ten—with two pairs of ganged "dual" wheels on each rear axle as on a GMC CCKW—all are also driven but the 6×6 designation remains. For most military applications where traction and mobility are considered more important than payload capability, single wheels on each axle (often referred to as super singles) are the norm.

View the full Wikipedia page for 6×6
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